Elon Musk, the richest man in the world and the man tasked with reorganizing the federal government, claimed that President Donald Trump had approved the closure of the US Agency for International Development on Monday, casting the agency's future in a dire light.
USAID's headquarters in Washington was closed for the day, and staff members were instructed via email to stay at home.
Its aid-related logos and images have been removed from building walls. A scaled-down version of its webpage on the State Department's website has taken the place of its website and social media profiles.
The venerable international charity organization is now in the crosshairs of Trump and Musk's federal government reform initiative. The agency, established by Congress as an independent entity, has been accused by Trump and his supporters of being blatantly politicized. Democrats have denied that claim, arguing that Trump lacks the power to abolish the agency.
Following Musk's remarks during a talk on X, the social media platform he controls, lawmakers and aid workers were anticipating that Trump would close the agency completely and transfer it under the auspices of the State Department. This move seemed certain on Monday morning.
In an interview with X Spaces early on Monday, Musk stated, "I went over the USAID stuff with (the president) in detail and he agreed that we should shut it down."
CNN has requested reaction from USAID and the White House. During a Q&A session with reporters late Monday, Trump personally reiterated his contempt for the agency and its overseas aid mission.
He told reporters at Joint Base Andrews, "We're getting rid of the radical lunatics who have been running it, and then we'll decide what to do with it."
According to many people familiar with the situation, USAID employees received an email shortly after midnight warning them not to visit their Washington office.
"On Monday, February 3, 2025, Agency staff will no longer be able to access USAID headquarters at the Ronald Reagan building in Washington, D.C., per the directive of Agency leadership. According to the email, which CNN has a copy of, "Agents typically assigned to work at USAID headquarters will work remotely tomorrow, with the exception of personnel with essential on-site and building maintenance functions individually contacted by senior leadership."
Conflict over sensitive data access
Several people familiar with the matter told CNN that two senior security officials at USAID were placed on administrative leave over the weekend for denying Department of Government Efficiency employees access to the agency's systems, despite DOGE staff threatening to contact law police.
According to three individuals, the DOGE staff sought access to USAID personnel files and security systems. According to two of those sources, DOGE employees also requested access to classified material, which is only available to those who possess security clearances and a particular need to know.
The DOGE staff eventually gained access to the headquarters, according to three sources who spoke to CNN. Trump appointed Katie Miller to DOGE in December, and she seemed to confirm on Sunday that DOGE staff had access to confidential material.
She wrote on X, "No classified material was accessed without proper security clearances."
Last Monday, USAID employees were also notified that the State Department now has access to the agency's Google Drive.
A USAID employee stated, "We have received official notification that the US Department of State now has access to all of our internal documents and our entire suite of files, documents, everything — all of our systems."
Trump's attempt to disband USAID was met with protests from Democratic congressional staffers.
"From the standpoint of Congress, it is a clear congressional prerogative to create and dissolve agencies, not the executive, and you can't just undo something that is in statute by (executive order)," one told CNN.
The development agency, AID, was established as a separate, autonomous organization for a reason. Because it's a particular field of work or its own expertise," someone else clarified. It's a broad field of work that requires a unique set of leadership and procedures and isn't just connected to the current national security concern, but it's essential to developing long-term partnerships and capabilities in fields like global health, which safeguard Americans.
Multiple people with knowledge of the matter told CNN that efforts were made last week to remove images of the humanitarian work that USAID undertakes across the world and signs of the agency's emblems from its offices.
The images have all been removed. These are similar to large-scale pictures representing our work in developing nations that are displayed in our galleys, lobbies, shared kitchens, and corridors," a USAID staffer remarked. Additionally, each department and office received an order to take down all USAID signage and artwork.
“They’ve removed the pictures from the walls, and we’re missing half of our colleagues because our colleagues are gone and have been let go, and everyone feels like they’re walking around with a target on their back,” a second USAID employee told CNN.
CNN was informed by a source who works in a USAID annex building that they are unsure if they should report to work on Monday.
The insider responded, "Our senior leaders have all been fired," when asked if department heads seemed to have any additional information on the agency's future activities.
Due to allegations that they were trying to get around Trump's executive order freezing foreign funding for 90 days, about 60 senior USAID employees were placed on leave last week. According to several people who spoke to CNN, the agency has also put a large number of lower-level employees and contractors on furlough.
USAID's website fell down on Saturday, and the State Department's website launched a new page for the organization. The entire USAID public affairs staff was placed on leave and shut out of their systems, according to a source who spoke to CNN after USAID's X account went offline on Saturday.
Trump's executive order, which halted all foreign aid for 90 days shortly after he took office last month, caused widespread confusion, program shutdowns, and layoffs.
The US government's humanitarian branch, USAID, was founded in 1961 during the administration of President John F. Kennedy. Every year, it distributes billions of dollars worldwide to combat starvation, treat illnesses, and aid in natural disasters and poverty alleviation. By assisting independent media outlets, social projects, and non-governmental groups, it also fosters the growth and development of democracy.
The Defense Department, State Department, and USAID are in charge of the "three D" foundations of US national security: defense, diplomacy, and development. Officials say USAID is a crucial soft power weapon that the US uses to build relationships with people throughout the world.